BTS and Editorial: Beautiful Boys

Looking through the endless number of folders I had completely forgot to upload this. I thought I had but apparently not. My Beautiful Boys editorial was meant to have been published, perhaps it was last year and after waiting and waiting and waiting and countless emails to the editor and wondering whether an volcano had blown up the magazine office, I gave up. These things happen.

I don’t shoot male models as often as I should. As a young lady of healthy persuasions you would think I’d take every opportunity too, that is if I’m not muttering incomprehensibly behind the camera about how the light -just- doesn’t -quite- hit the rights spots correctly and why do guys just -don’t- move in quite the same way as girls do.  And then self despair wallows me up while I figure out why I am -just- so crap and will never amount to -anything-. And young men really do not like being painted on. Which I what I like to do best, hovering over makeup artists brandishing open their lovely shiny palettes and saying ‘how about we try them ALL?’ Cue dramatic emo curtains and musical self pity. Us photographers are fragile little things. Moving on…

So the joys associated with drinking copious amount of tea from big cups and dressing in ludicrous items of clothing because they’re lying around, I love photo shoots. They’re the most exhausting, sometimes wrenching things ever, but ah, the satisfaction. Especially with young beautiful men in leather pants, adorned with spikes and collars and furs.

With me were fashion stylist Krissie Cao, makeup artist extraordinaire Justine Bruers, models David W and Dan B from Chadwick and of course my awesome tea making friend and roped in assistant Anna.

And boys ARE gorgeous. They model even when they’re not modeling. Maybe I should be shooting more of them.

Love.

BTS: Tinsel Town

Right before I left for my 6 month sojourn from Melbourne, I did a gorgeous shoot with some gorgeous young faces (Paris and Alex) from London Management. The very talented Victoria Martin joined us for hair and makeup for some of the most glitterastic looks I’ve ever encountered. Who doesn’t love glitter??

Here are some behind the scenes shots!

I love working with really passionate people who love what they do and enjoy it. It’s really evident in their faces and the quality of their work and always remind me that all the hard effort is worth it especially at the end of the day when we feel so drained and overwhelmed.

And the results:-

And some of my favorite outtakes:-

Enjoy!

 

Block Beauty

Color blocking is so 2011, so how does it look like as a makeup trend? With us are international models Renata and Elle who showed us how to pull off the looks effortlessly.

The concept called for super fine sleek lustrous hair crafted by Vanessa Barney and bold matte makeup carefully put together by Kate McCleary with some very creative styling by Steph Margaret.

And the result? Voila…

BTS and Editorial: Burnt in Tinsel Tokyo

A few months back I got together with Justine Bruers to do a beauty story based on the hot new colours of 2012. With us, the super talented Aida Woldu and the stunning ladies from Viviens, Emily F and Jade P.

Burnt focuses on the brilliant shades of gold, orange, plums and purples, colours I personally love and very excited to see for the new year. It is always great working with a fabulous team and beautiful models, makes a super stress-free shoot!

Burnt is published in the anniversary winter issue of LA based magazine Tinsel Tokyo. Enjoy!

BTS Video- Desperate in Suburbia

Who knew creating a video would be this much fun? Thank you IMovie!

We embarked on a fashion editorial shoot somewhere in the wilderness of Kew, filled with whitewashed houses and carefully articulated shrubs. I love suburbs….they’re so markedly different from the city, like a living breathing organism resting outside waiting to envelope all the noise and dust and spit out pretty fences and rose bushes.

The day started with me being utterly stressed out, panicking on the train, assistants staring at me like I’ve gone bonkers, lots of cute adorable puppies who turn out to be modelesque in their own right, a ton of muffins, and then relief. It’s great when things turn out to be awesome- I always think the world is ending and why oh why did I ever churn out such a mad cap idea. What helps- a team of ridiculously awesome people.

Enjoy:-

Photographer Shamim de Varax @ sdevarax.com
Stylist Airdrie Makim
Makeup Justine Bruers
Hair Justine Bruers and Vanessa Jane
Models Olivia and Jemma @ Giant
Assistants Anna L and Ashley N

More videos needed….definitely.